Sky, Virgin & BT TV Haggle down prices and get serious discounts Article Discussion

storri

Another success story.

Cancelled my full Sky TV package in October last year. Wasn't offered any retention deal. Just waited.

It's true that losing the convenience of recording/pausing is a nuisance but you DO get used to it. I also discovered that I could live without most of Sky and just how good BBC iplayer is as a substitute. There is plenty of free TV there. Losing Sky Sports was hardest for me.

About mid-December i realised that i had previously opted-out of all marketing contact. So that was probably stopping any come-back offers. But all was not lost in my mind (despite the claims of some know-alls on here!).
I simply logged on to MySky and used the online "chat" with a rep who was perfectly happy to opt me back in for post, email and phone contact.
Then just waited some more.

Yesterday i had a 50% off for a year mailer through the post. But having seen the recent 75% off success stories here i decided to hold out for a better offer.

Today i had a win-back phone call, also offering 50% off for 12 months. I said no thanks, but asked if that was the best they had. Apparently not... I was then offered 50% off EE+ plus a £50 credit, but I said it was Sport that i really liked, so they offered the same deal (50% off and £50 credit) for EE+ and Sport.
Hmmm. Tempting. But then i laid my cards on the table and said i'd heard people being offered 75% off the full TV package, so i'd rather wait for that offer or could they possibly do that right now?
The guy said yes that was possible, as a final offer, they could give me 75% off any TV package for 12 months. So i accepted.
It was all active again within 10 minutes.

It meant a new 12-month contract but the deal does remain for 12 months even if i later downgrade from full package with HD (at £20.75 p/m) to just EE (at £8 p/m).

I hope this helps clarify marketing preference possibilities for others like me who had opted-out and reinforce what is currently available for those prepared to go cold-turkey from Sky for a while!

[Deleted User]

storri wrote: »

About mid-December i realised that i had previously opted-out of all marketing contact. So that was probably stopping any come-back offers. But all was not lost in my mind (despite the claims of some know-alls on here!).

There is always the option of contacting Sky directly, the point is that you would have waited forlornly for Sky to get in touch with you.
Not sure where I've ever read here that "all was lost" if you were opted out of marketing calls. It's always possible to have them re-instated by Sky, but of course you can't change the preferences personally once you cease to be a customer.

storri wrote: »

I hope this helps clarify marketing preference possibilities for others like me who had opted-out

You've just reiterated what I've said over and over to those who bemoaned not receiving any offers.

storri wrote: »

Then just waited some more.

If you had gone to MySky, you would have seen offers to return almost from the moment your cancellation took effect. So you've unnecessarily gone without a Sky retention deal for three months..

storri

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

If you had gone to MySky, you would have seen offers to return almost from the moment your cancellation took effect. So you've unnecessarily gone without a Sky retention deal for three months..

Actually not true. I have checked the offers section on MySky every week since cancelling, I even did so yesterday after receiving the postal mailing offer. Nothing like that was ever offered there for me. Maybe that was because i was logging on to check regularly! Who knows, eh?

I stand by my comments about marketing preferences and an alternative option for getting them reinstated without phoning sky. I hope that info is useful for others.

[Deleted User]

storri wrote: »

I have checked the offers section on MySky every week since cancelling, I even did so yesterday after receiving the postal mailing offer. Nothing like that was ever offered there for me. Maybe that was because i was logging on to check regularly! Who knows, eh?

On that point I have no answer.

sparky200

Obviously your win back call came from the retentions dept if I phone 0844 2411914, which is the number previously mentioned on here, do you know if this goes straight through to them or the general call centre number? There was also a 0207 126 7020 number but this just seemed to go to the call centre.

[Deleted User]

sparky200 wrote: »

Obviously your win back call came from the retentions dept if I phone 0844 2411914, which is the number previously mentioned on here, do you know if this goes straight through to them or the general call centre number? There was also a 0207 126 7020 number but this just seemed to go to the call centre.

I think you'll always have to be re-directed to the Win-back team via the call centre otherwise they would be overwhelmed with general enquiries.

storri

sparky200 wrote: »

Obviously your win back call came from the retentions dept if I phone 0844 2411914, which is the number previously mentioned on here, do you know if this goes straight through to them or the general call centre number? There was also a 0207 126 7020 number but this just seemed to go to the call centre.

Not really. It came from an outbound telemarketing company working for Sky. The number was 01332 387201 - i think the company is called WebHelp UK.
http://www.webhelp.com/uk/who-we-are/key-partners
Presumably they are given a list of prospects to call and work within a set script as to what they can offer you.
Good luck!

PiratePete

teddysmum wrote: »

Do have phone and broadband with them and, if so, do you manage a deal with these, too?

No just the TV. I like to keep all my services separate to get the best price on each.

mark_steps

storri wrote: »

Another success story.

Cancelled my full Sky TV package in October last year. Wasn't offered any retention deal. Just waited.

It's true that losing the convenience of recording/pausing is a nuisance but you DO get used to it. I also discovered that I could live without most of Sky and just how good BBC iplayer is as a substitute. There is plenty of free TV there. Losing Sky Sports was hardest for me.

About mid-December i realised that i had previously opted-out of all marketing contact. So that was probably stopping any come-back offers. But all was not lost in my mind (despite the claims of some know-alls on here!).
I simply logged on to MySky and used the online "chat" with a rep who was perfectly happy to opt me back in for post, email and phone contact.
Then just waited some more.
!

Just logged on and I had chosen not to receive mail shots etc. Contacted them via chat and they changed it so i receive everything. Just a waiting game now I guess. Wondered why I hadn't had any offers to go back...

[Deleted User]

PiratePete wrote: »

I like to keep all my services separate to get the best price on each.

You'll never get the "best" price by doing this because cheapest prices are for "bundled" services from one supplier. What you will get is the best version of each service (if you choose carefully).
For instance Sky TV is far superior to Virgin's offering, but Virgin's broadband is second to none.